Kirk Cousins Rumors: Execs Feel Falcons Need to Eat 'Chunk of' Contract to Trade QB

While many believe veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is on the verge of being released by the Atlanta Falcons this offseason, some are wondering if the team would consider trading him instead.

The Athletic's Jeff Howe reported that the Falcons "have not yet decided what they'll do with Cousins in 2025," but if they want to trade him, "executives around the league believe they would have to consume a chunk of his contract to get anything of substance."

"He would have a market. However, the contract is what will hold it back," an executive told Howe. "The compensation would depend on how much Atlanta would eat or if he would rework the contract."

Cousins has a no-trade clause and is guaranteed to make $27.5 million next season. If he's still on the Atlanta roster by March 17, it would activate his $10 million guarantee for the 2026 season. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Saturday that the Falcons are likely to release him before that date.

Atlanta would be better off if it could acquire assets for Cousins rather than losing him for nothing, but there isn't much motivation for teams to give up anything for him. The offset language in his contract means that the Falcons would have to pay the balance of his 2025 guaranteed money if the 36-year-old is released, so other teams could sign him for the veteran's minimum.

Still, all signs point to Cousins' time in Atlanta coming to an end after just one year. The Falcons will have paid him $90 million for 14 games in which he threw a career-high 16 interceptions.